Going Beyond the Traditional Hire: How One Company Leveraged a Local Partnership and is Replicating its Success Nationwide Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

An Initiative is Launched Overview An Initiative is Launched Partnerships and the Traditional Hire Using Partnerships to Move Beyond the Traditional Hire How You Can Get Connected Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Launching an Initiative In late 2008, OfficeMax launched the People with Disabilities and Veterans Initiative The Mission: To create an atmosphere where qualified people with disabilities and veterans can proactively contribute their talents and strengths to ultimately drive shareholder value, while continuing to foster diversity and inclusion Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

The OfficeMax Journey Purpose: Broaden focus of diversity efforts to all dimensions Disability and Veteran status cross all diversity dimensions Race/Gender Geographical Generational Economical

Launching an Initiative Challenges: We don’t know what we don’t know… Finding a Champion within the business Found a business champion in our Supply Chain organization Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Launching an Initiative Challenges: Preparing our current supervisors and associates Employment Barriers/Biases Awareness Training Preparing the Workplace Developed and instituded the People with Disabilities and Veterans Training Module Pilots in Washington DC, Chicago, Dallas, and San Francisco Additional training for Supply Chain associates eLearning for all Store Management and HQ hiring managers Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Launching an Initiative Challenges: How do we find qualified candidates? Identify business needs Look for partners that can assist at a National and Local level Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Partnerships and the Traditional Hire Additional training for current supervisors and staff 2 hires who were deaf in early 2011 3 additional hires through 2012, with an 80% retention rate 1 associate promoted to forklift Sign language classes voluntarily attended by associates during lunch breaks Washington, DC Customer Fulfillment Center partners with Maryland Department of Rehabilitation Services Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Partnerships and the Traditional Hire Utilized previous local partner relationship Smaller candidate pool focused on individuals with cognitive disabilities Retention issues with newer hires Chicago, IL Customer Fulfillment Center partners with community rehabilitation partners Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Partnerships and the Traditional Hire Development of 3 lane approach Direct Hire Transitional Work Group Pre-Training environments Improved process flow for Direct Hires Larger candidate pool with more diversity Support of full time job coach in OfficeMax CFC Additional focus on Retail and Customer Service Chicago, IL Customer Fulfillment Center partners with Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Partnerships and the Traditional Hire Memorandum of Agreement Disability Awareness Training 3 Phases of Partnership Direct Hire On-site, Simulated Distribution Center, Work Readiness Training Outplacement Full utilization of VR Resources Over 50 hires within first year, over half still employed McCalla, AL PowerMax Distribution Center partners with Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

The Traditional Hire: A Closer Look Video Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

The Alabama Model Getting Connected Customize to Alabama OM Leadership visits Walgreens’ Texas Model McCalla PowerMax connects with ADRS thru NET Tour and Talks of Expectations Customize to Alabama Corporate buy-in from both entities Single point of contact established Disability Awareness Training for OM staff Direct Hire process established Referrals and Hires begin Expand Partnership Summer‘13: On-site pre-hire training Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Memorandum of Agreement The Alabama Model Defining the Partnership Memorandum of Agreement Purpose Statement of need Terms of Agreement Roles & Responsibilities ADRS OfficeMax Combination Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

The Alabama Model Traditional Hire Process Referral to BRC * VR Counselor pre- screens candidates and refers to BRC’s: Leslie Dawson (Tusc) or Bobbi Stephenson (BHM) * BRC screens and assists candidate in applying for employment with OM * BRC notifies staffing agency of application Referral to BRC * Staffing agency processes application, performs a background check, and sends candidate for a drug screens * Staffing agency arranges an interview with supervisor at OfficeMax * Staffing agency notifies BRC of hire date Application with Staffing Agency * Accommodations provided, if needed * Follow-up with staffing agency and OM supervisors provided by BRC’s * Job-related issues communicated with counselors * 90 day, minimum, before roll over to OM payroll Job Placement Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Moving Beyond the Traditional Hire The Alabama Model On-site Simulated Distribution Center Designed and constructed in-house. Focused on five functional job codes, not all encompassing. Allows associate to gain competency before being placed in general operations. Collaborative effort on training curriculum. Technology such as Ipads with Signing Savvy App installed. Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Moving Beyond the Traditional Hire The Alabama Model On-site at OfficeMax Distribution Center Time-limited, Pre-hire Paid Work Experience 1st Part of training occurs in the Simulated Warehouse Environment with a program coordinator 2nd Part of training occurs on the production floor with a MaxTrainer, i.e. job coach Results in employment with OfficeMax, as an OM associate or as TRC employee*, or receives outplacement assistance Pre-Hire Training Program Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Moving Beyond the Traditional Hire The Alabama Model Job Placement Results in employment with OfficeMax, as an OM associate or as TRC employee*, or receives outplacement assistance Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Moving Beyond the Traditional Hire The Alabama Model Counselor and BRC identify potential candidate for Work Readiness Training Counselor and BRC determine need for pre-assessment* Counselor and BRC refer candidate to WRT Program Coordinator Candidate completes WRT training evaluation Candidate begins training: soft skills and job skills Candidate successfully completes curriculum in simulated environment Candidate transitions to “real-time” production environment with job coach, if needed Candidate is producing at level required for hire by OfficeMax Candidate graduates program and secures employment* Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Leveraging Partnerships for Replicability National in Scope Business as Customer VR as One Company Easily Accessible Network: work with the national VR network through a single point of contact VR Points of Contact in each state VR Systems: Veterans VR&E , American Indian Rehabilitation Community Partners Leveraging the Strengths of a National System Through Delivery at the Local Level VR National Employment Team: The NET Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Getting Connected The NET Access To: The largest talent pool of applicants with disabilities Quality products and services VR as a coordinated national system Business partnerships built at the local, state and multi-state level VR state points of contact linked to resources at all levels Responsive and consistent across states National VR resources, best practices, and technical experts at the national, state and local level Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Getting Connected The NET Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

NET Standards and Protocols VR agencies agree to respond to business as a customer through the following actions: Conduct an employer needs assessment; and Deliver business services through a VR team that is built on the identified needs and the footprint of the company.

NET Standards and Protocols The VR designated points of contact will: Respond “promptly” = two business days Understand business need Provide technical assistance and consultation Provide qualified applicants to business Provide support services, as needed Collaborate with CSAVR and other VR agencies Share Promising Practices

OfficeMax’s Ongoing Commitment to Initiative Maxing Out Diversity Funded by a grant from the Kessler Foundation Vocational Rehabilitation key partner Building pre-training environments in 4 markets Columbus, OH Chicago, IL Dallas, TX Las Vegas, NV Includes Distribution and Retail Goal is to develop repeatable, sustainable model Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

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